Yet again it’s that time for another update of our goings on here at the Tree Life Centre. It seems like more than a month ago since our last update, mainly because it’s been very busy with everyone working hard, trying to keep warm mainly, and due to plenty of changes occuring within the centre. Also, National Tree Week has passed me by this past week which marks the start of the winter tree planting season, although we here at the Centre aren’t involved in any events, any celebration of native trees is always a good thing. If you were inspired by any of the events or just wish to learn more about native trees in general then why not pop by and see us, get your hands dirty, and have some fun!
Our flag flying outside to say we are open!
The start of the month saw a few changes happening to the centre. We now only offer a mini bus pick-up from central Bristol on a Monday, the rest of the week volunteers have to make their way to the centre under their own steam. Another change was our Project Officer Ben Hall left TCV for pastures new. After 6 or so years, first as a volunteer and then running the Centre, he will be greatly missed by everyone who has had contact with the Tree Life Centre over his tenure, and we all wish him well with his future adventures. During his last week the volunteers held a leaving party and gave Ben a good send off with the majority of the current gang, and a few old faces popping by, for a BBQ. However, with Ben’s departure we welcomed our new Project Officer Rachael Ford with open arms to the TLC family and we are all excitied by the start of a new chapter in life of the Centre!
The majority of the gang who said goodbye to Ben.
As we are entering our busiest time of year recieving and sorting out tree orders we had to complete a mad scramble to assemble a stock take which is much harder than it sounds, with all our beds it surprising just how many saplings you can fit into them…then there is the size of them too! With that complete so far we have processed and delivered a couple of large orders, first for Wiltshire County Council and for our neighbours Friends of Cock Road Ridge. We have plenty of other orders rolling in for next month to keep us busy but it’s always nice to get more so contact us to find out what we have to offer.
Elsewhere around the Centre, our Edible Plants group have been enjoying growing their veg in the polytunnel, especially after harvesting some of the salad to eat at the BBQ, and digging up some of the leeks. They have also managed to successfully grow another large batch of strawberry plants from the runners of the plants in our bed, ready for sale! Much planning has taken place as to which veg they want to grow next spring as well as looking after the overwintering crop outside.
The overwintering crops in the polytunnel coming on well
The diploma gang, which is slowly growing, have also been very busy with all of their theory (when the weather turns in!) and practical work, especially with the maintenance of the trees a core element of the course. So lots of weeding, staking and mulching taking place! Also, this week they started our hard wood cutting propagation programme, which included a walk up to Cock Road Ridge to collect many cuttings. They have also been visited a couple of times this month by the head assessor from Duchy College, who was so impressed with our apple trees we grafted he even bought two! If you wish to find out more about the diploma, please see below or contact us. There are no fixed start dates as its a rolling course so you can start whenever you wish.
Information about the diploma courses we offer.
Parish notices:
As we are now entering the festive period we have all been gearing up for the two stalls we have at local events. There will be many rustic Rudolph’s for sale along with various trees, including small spruces in pots and apple trees, and other treats we have hand made! The two events are as follows…
The Create Centre Festive Fair, Friday 6th December 4pm-9pm and Saturday 7th December 10am-5pm. TCV Bristol family (which includes the TLC) will be having a stall there manned mainly by volunteers at the annual Festive Fair. For more information about the Create Centre and the event please visit their website here.
Carols Around the Stable, Grimsbury Farm, Saturday 14th December. We will be having a stall at our home on the farm prior to the carol service which starts at 5:15pm. Last year was a huge success selling out of virtually everything so get there early! The event is hosted by the Friends of Grimsbury Farm, you can find out more information about the group and the event here.
Finally, we will be closed for two weeks over the Christmas period with our last day being Wednesday 18th December for volunteers and the 19th for diploma students. We will then re-open on Monday 6th January 2014.
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